ANNOUNCEMENT: The Errandonnee is suspended as of 3/15. I’ll open up another window for Errandonnee completion once the current situation settles and we are free to move about again. If you’ve already completed and just need to let me know about your completed errands in order to qualify for the grand patch prize, please do. Otherwise, we are on hold. Thanks everyone, and I hope you are all well.

Attention, attention! The Errandonnee is back in 2020 to challenge transportation cyclists, runners, and walking enthusiasts everywhere!

It’s a new year, time to try new things or get organized around old ones. The Errandonnee is designed for the utility cyclist and transportation runner and/or pedestrian with errands to do, no matter the season. The short version of the Errandonnee is:

Errandonnee: Complete 12 errands in 12 consecutive days, and ride or run a total of 30 miles. This year, you pick the 12-day stretch that works for you. Must be between February 1 and March 31. 

Errands are inevitable. The Errandonnee is a time to appreciate the active transportation we often do, but seldom celebrate. Ride, walk, run, and get things done!

The term “errandonnee” is a hybrid of “errands” and the French word “randonnee.” String 12 errands into one long ride (or run, or walk) interrupted by sleep and other diversions, and you have an Errandonnee. It’s that simple!

You are not limited to riding a bicycle. You can run, walk, or ride your way to the Errandonnee finish line – or any combination of the three. This year, you could even try one Errandonnee by bike, and one on two feet  (or “Errundonnee” if you’re fancy.

You don’t get to use words with triple double letters very often, so how can you resist participating in the Errandonnee?

Categories

Below are the 9 Errandonnee categories (or controls) in order for you to plan and map your Errandonnee accordingly:

1. Arts and Entertainment

2. Non-Store Errand

3. Personal Care

4. Personal Business

5. Social Call (includes restaurants, coffee, and other social activities)

6. Store (includes bike shop, running store, grocery store, etc. You know, a store.)

7. You carried WHAT?!

8. Work, Volunteering, School (includes dropping off kids)

9. Wild Card (surprise me!)

I keep saying I’m going to change up the categories, but so far, these have worked well. If you have a suggestion for something new, please let me know and I’ll switch it up next year.

As this is a Chasing Mailboxes challenge, I added some rules. I think after you read them you will find this challenge quite manageable.

Rules

1. Complete 12 errands by bike or on your two feet between February 1 through March 31, 2020.
2. You choose the 12-day window that work for you in February and March, BUT you must complete your 12 errands within a 12-day span. For example, if you start your Errandonnee on February 1, you must complete your challenge by February 12.
3. You can complete all 12 errands in one day, do one errand per day, or whatever combination that works for you, but all must be completed at the end of your 12 consecutive days. .
4. Keep track of your errands and miles. (I only need the cumulative number of miles you completed for the entire Errandonnee, NOT the distance per errand.)
5. There is no minimum length for each errand, but total cycling, running, or walking miles must total at least 30 over 12 days. (You can go multi-modal. You can combine running, riding, and walking. Note the total number of bicycling miles, running miles, and walking miles on your control card/submission. You can estimate, it’s not that serious.)
6. Complete all 12 errands by the end of March 31, and use at least 7 of the 9 categories. Each category may be used a maximum of two times. For example, you may count a ride or runcommute to work a total of two times.
7. Wild Card is any trip you make that does not fall into any of the categories listed on the control card.
8. If you carry a baked good for the “You carried WHAT on your bike (or back, or elsewhere)?!” please provide a before and after photo. For the run category, please briefly describe your main Errandonnee shoes and pack you use for carrying stuff around. If you ride, I’d love to see a photo of your main Errandonnee bike.
9. To evidence your errand, take one photo during your outing or some other proof of your trip. Submit at least one thing you learned or observed during your trip. Photos may be provided in the following ways:
   • The Errandonnee Facebook Group.
   • The Errandonnee Strava Group.
   • If you have a blog, you can post them there and send me the links.
   • You may also use a site like flickr and link me to your photos.
   • Instagram! Hashtag #errandonnee
   • Tweets! Hashtag #errandonnee
   • Finally, I will accept 12 photos via email or even by letter if that works best for you.
10. Earth limitation still applies. All participants must be from somewhere on Earth.
11. Having Fun Rule. If the Errandonnee stresses you out or has too many rules or makes you feel some kind of way, please stop. This is designed to be fun and if you are not having fun then please do not feel that you must continue. If you like it, then keep going!
12. Deadline for all Errandonnee submissions is around midnight in your area, April 10 or so, 2020. Email me when you’ve finished (gersemalina “at” gmail “dot” com). Tell me the 12-day timeframe you chose, and where you’ve posted your errands. I’ll verify them. Send all qualifying errands together.
13. Everyone who successfully completes the Errandonnee is eligible for a prize, which is $5 total, including shipping. International entries pay $6. To purchase your prize, you may PayPal me at the gmail address above, or send your money by snail mail like grandma used to do (email me for my address). Please include an address with your submission so that I may mail your Errandonnee treasure.

If you have a blog and write about your Errandonnee, please let me know in the comments so we can follow along!

Additional questions?

Ask in the comments of this post or send me an email.

Get your to-do lists ready and mark your calendars. Time to ride, walk, run, and get stuff done!